Most people see the white hair, the Nike sneakers with a suit, and those massive Super Bowl rings and think they know exactly who Robert Kraft is. He’s the guy standing next to Tom Brady on a podium, right? The billionaire who owns the New England Patriots.
Well, yeah. But that’s honestly just the tip of the iceberg.
If you really want to understand who is robert kraft, you have to look at a guy who started out selling newspapers outside of Braves Field in Boston and ended up becoming one of the most influential power brokers in American history. It wasn’t just luck. It was a decades-long obsession with a football team that, for a long time, didn't even want him.
The Paper Trail to Billions
Before the touchdowns and the champagne, there was paper. Lots of it. Kraft didn't inherit a fortune; he married into a family business and then basically took it over. In the early 60s, he started working for his father-in-law at Rand-Whitney, a packaging company. By 1968, he pulled off a leveraged buyout to take control.
Think about that. A young guy in his 20s betting everything on cardboard boxes.
He didn't stop there. In 1972, he founded International Forest Products. He had this hunch that as the world got more connected, physical trade would explode. He was right. Today, his companies do business in over 120 countries. If you’ve ever bought a box of Estée Lauder perfume or even a toy from a big-box retailer, there’s a decent chance Kraft’s companies handled the packaging.
He’s currently sitting on a net worth estimated around $11 billion as of early 2026. That kind of money buys a lot of influence, but for Kraft, it was always about one specific goal: the Patriots.
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The Wild Story of How He Bought the Patriots
Most owners buy teams because they’re bored billionaires. Kraft bought the Patriots because he was a super-fan who had been a season ticket holder since 1971.
In the late 80s, the team was a mess. They were playing in a crumbling stadium in Foxborough, and the owners were hemorrhaging cash. Kraft saw an opening. He didn't just try to buy the team; he played a high-stakes game of chess. First, he bought the parking lots around the stadium. Then, he bought the stadium itself out of bankruptcy in 1988.
He basically held the team hostage.
The then-owner, James Orthwein, wanted to move the Patriots to St. Louis. He offered Kraft $75 million to break the stadium lease. Most people would have taken the money and run. Instead, Kraft said no. He countered with an offer to buy the whole team for $172 million in 1994—the highest price ever paid for an NFL team at the time.
It was a massive risk. His friends thought he was crazy. But the second he took over, everything changed. He promised a championship to New England, and while it took a few years and a skinny quarterback from Michigan named Tom Brady, he delivered six of them.
Why Robert Kraft Still Matters in 2026
Even now, at 84 years old, Kraft isn't slowing down. You might have seen the headlines recently about him selling a minority stake in the team. In late 2025, reports surfaced that he was selling about 3% of the Patriots to the investment firm Sixth Street.
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It’s part of a bigger plan to divest up to 8% under the NFL’s new private equity rules. But don't get it twisted—he’s not leaving. He still owns 100% of the voting stock. He’s just being a smart businessman, Liquidity is king, even for billionaires.
More Than Just Sports
Beyond the field, Kraft has become a massive figure in social activism. If you’ve seen those "Blue Square" ads on TV or social media, that’s him. After winning the Genesis Prize (the "Jewish Nobel") in 2019, he put up $25 million of his own money to start the Foundation to Combat Antisemitism.
Just recently, in 2025, his foundation got another $200 million boost through a partnership with the Rales Foundation. He’s trying to use the same marketing muscle he used to build the Patriots brand to fight hate. It’s pretty rare to see a sports owner get that deep into the weeds of social issues, but for Kraft, it’s personal.
A Star-Studded Personal Life
The guy’s personal life is basically a Hollywood script. He was married to his college sweetheart, Myra Hiatt, for nearly 50 years until she passed away in 2011. It hit him hard. He’s been open about how "messed up" he was for a long time after her death.
But then came the comeback.
In 2022, he married Dr. Dana Blumberg, a prominent ophthalmologist who is 33 years his junior. The wedding was a total surprise. He invited a bunch of A-listers to a "Kickoff and a Touchdown" party in New York, and then Elton John walked out and announced them as husband and wife.
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In July 2025, he hosted his annual White Party at his $43 million Hamptons mansion. The guest list was a "who's who" of culture: Jerry Seinfeld, Mike Tyson, Jon Bon Jovi, and Sylvester Stallone. He’s essentially the center of gravity for a specific brand of American power and celebrity.
The Complexity of the Legacy
It hasn't all been trophies and parties. You can't talk about who is robert kraft without mentioning the 2019 solicitation charges in Florida. While the charges were eventually dropped and the evidence was suppressed, it was a rare moment where the "clean" image of the Patriots' patriarch was dragged through the mud.
He’s also faced criticism for his political ties and his hardball negotiations with the state over stadium infrastructure. But that's the thing about Kraft—he’s a "velvet hammer." He’s incredibly polite and charming, but he’s also a ruthless negotiator who rarely loses.
Key Takeaways on Robert Kraft's Impact:
- The Business Architect: He turned a struggling paper company into a global packaging empire (The Kraft Group).
- The Ultimate Fan-Owner: He used a "stadium-first" strategy to force the previous owners to sell him the Patriots so he could keep them in New England.
- The NFL Power Broker: He was instrumental in negotiating the massive TV deals with NBC and ESPN that made the league billions.
- The Philanthropist: He’s committed nearly $1 billion to various causes, with a massive focus on the Foundation to Combat Antisemitism.
If you’re looking to follow in his footsteps or just understand the business of sports, the biggest lesson from Kraft is leverage. He didn't just want the team; he bought the land and the stadium first so they had to sell to him. That’s the kind of long-game thinking that separates the billionaires from the millionaires.
For a closer look at his business philosophy, check out some of his interviews with Forbes or the Harvard Business School archives, where he often talks about the "hunch" that started his international trade empire. It’s a masterclass in trusting your gut when everyone else thinks you’re wrong.